Tivian North Suburbs, Royal Crown University, King’s Campus.
In the afternoon, inside the spacious university library, students are scattered across various seats, engrossed in their books. Everyone maintains the usual quiet atmosphere, unlike other parts of the school where discussions about the police and the sudden disappearance of students are rampant.
In a secluded corner by the window, Dorothy sits in her usual spot. Beside her is a stack of various books, and in front of her is an open book with handwritten text. Clear, neat handwriting appears out of nowhere on the blank pages—this is the Literary Sea Logbook.
"Respected ’Scholar,’ please forgive my interruption. Today, I still have new questions to ask you. This time, I need to inquire about the function of a certain device. Its main body seems to be a wooden box with a large brass horn attached. The box has a drawer containing a black, perforated disc. The specific appearance is as follows..."
Words and sentences appear on the pages of the Literary Sea Logbook, followed by a simple sketch that vividly outlines the device.
Dorothy glances at the sketch in the Literary Sea Logbook and quickly realizes what it depicts. She immediately picks up her pen and writes a response.
"Hello, Mr. Kapak. The machine you described is called a phonograph, a device capable of playing recorded sounds. The black, perforated disc you mentioned is called a record, the medium used to store sound. Using the phonograph, you can play the sounds recorded on the record."
After finishing her reply, Dorothy watches as her handwriting slowly sinks into the paper. After patiently waiting for a while, new text appears on the logbook’s pages. This time, the handwriting is slightly slanted, as if the person writing it was somewhat excited.
"A machine that can play recorded sounds? Such a machine actually exists? The countries across the sea are truly ingenious. Respected Scholar, could you teach me how to use this marvelous phonograph?"
"First, you need to properly install the record..."
Dorothy patiently writes out the instructions for using the phonograph, answering each question that appears on the logbook. Soon, the young tribesman on the other end seems to have successfully gotten his phonograph to work.
"It’s true! Respected Scholar, you were right! The phonograph really can play recorded sounds! Such beautiful music, this is truly amazing!"
The handwriting on the logbook becomes increasingly messy. Just by looking at it, Dorothy can imagine the young tribesman’s excitement as he listens to the music.
“This Kapak is such a curious young man. I never expected this logbook to reach the New Continent across the sea. Fortunately, it ended up in the hands of someone like him.”
Dorothy thinks to herself. When she first communicated with Kapak as Akasha, she had mentioned that there were others like him who possessed similar texts. Not long after, Dorothy contacted Kapak again, this time under a new identity.
To better understand Kapak’s situation, Dorothy adopted the persona of a "Scholar," another individual blessed by Akasha, and sent him a new message. Kapak quickly responded with surprise.
Under Dorothy’s guidance, Kapak soon believed her new identity. It was as if he had found a long-lost companion, and he eagerly engaged in conversation with Dorothy.
After all, compared to Akasha, a powerful spirit whose true nature is unknown, communicating with someone who shared a similar experience felt much easier and more comfortable.
During their exchanges, Kapak often asked Dorothy about the uses of various industrial products. Kapak had collected many such items, but not all of them came with instructions like medicines. Dorothy frequently explained how to use these items, just as she had done with the phonograph.
Of course, while explaining, Dorothy also subtly probed for information about Kapak’s situation. After several exchanges, she had a rough understanding of his circumstances.
First, Dorothy learned that his name was Kapak and that he lived on the continent across the sea. He mentioned that invaders from Pritt had crossed the ocean from the east to seize their land. Based on the geographical location, Dorothy concluded that this was the New Continent to the west of the main continent.
Through further conversation, Dorothy confirmed that Kapak was a native of the New Continent, a young tribesman. Like many other natives, he despised the invaders but was not opposed to their advanced industrial products. Kapak was particularly interested in these items, so Dorothy often explained their uses to him. In return, Kapak shared information about the New Continent.
For example, Dorothy learned that the New Continent was home to many native tribes. Kapak’s tribe was called the Tupa Tribe, which had once been loyal to a single king but later split. She also learned that the New Continent had many wilderness spirits not found on the main continent, as well as conflicts among the colonizers...
Each time Dorothy explained something to Kapak, she gained more information about the New Continent. This time, Dorothy wanted to delve deeper into the tribes’ mystical or religious practices.
"Kapak, I want to ask you something. Do you have any mainstream beliefs or worship practices there? I’m not talking about worship of wilderness spirits, but worship of deities, like the Three Saints of Radiance worshipped by the colonizers."
Dorothy writes this in the logbook and watches as the words slowly disappear, patiently waiting for Kapak’s response.
Soon, Kapak’s handwriting reappears on the paper.
"Respected Scholar, you may not know this, but in our culture, there is no distinction between gods and spirits. Everything is a spirit, and everything is a god. Spirits may vary in strength, but except for evil spirits, we hold reverence for all of them.”
"We worship wilderness spirits, ancestral spirits... These spirits are all around us. Many of them can directly communicate with shamans or even manifest themselves. This is quite different from the concept of deities held by the invaders.”
"If I had to name one spirit among those we worship that comes closest to the invaders’ concept of the Radiant God, it would be the Great Soul.”
"In our land, each tribe worships different spirits, but regardless of the tribe, all pay the highest reverence to one entity—the Great Soul.”
"It is the origin and final destination of all souls in this world. It is the ancestor of souls and their ultimate end."